Flag pole holder



May 11, 1965 A. MuRDocK FLAG POLE HOLDER Filed July 15, 1962 INV ENTOR af Maipo c/r BY Z Z 2 g /@rv ATTORNEYS United States Patent O M M2336 FLAG PULE li-ILDER Abe Murdock, 4835 Calvert St., Washington, DAC.

Filed .Iuly 13, 1962, Ser. No. 209,591

9 Claims. (Ci. 243-44) This invention generally relates to an article support- `ing device, and more particularly to anovel holder for Ythe -stalf or pole of a ilag or the like.

erect position. Furthermore, it is usualy diliicult-to drive a long pole member firmly into the ground so that it will remain in an erect position.

Therefore, the principal object of the present invention relates to a novel supporting device for supporting the pole or staff of a ilag or the like.`

A further object of this invention relates to a novel holder for llag staffs or the like which is relatively light in weight and is easy and inexpensive tomanufacture.

An additional object of this invention relates to a novel supporting device for the pole or statt of a flag which prevents fouling of the flag about the pole.

A further object of thisinvention relates to a flag pole which is particularly adapted to be utilized with my novel supporting device.

Other objects and the entire scope of the present invention Will become apparent from the following detailed description and by reference to the accompanying drawdescription and specific examples while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way Y of illustration only since various changes and modications within the spirit-and scope of the invention will become apparent as the description herein progresses. Reference nowbeing made to the accompanying` drawing which form a part hereof.

FIGURE 1' is a viewrin perspective of the supporting device in its active use for supporting -myrpreferred flag stati from the ground;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view, partly in section, of the device mountedV in the ground and supporting a flag staff or the like;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational View of the device mounted in the ground and supporting a ag stati or the like;

FIGURE 4 is a section taken on line 4 4 of FIG- URE 2;

` FIGURE 5 is a View similar to FIGURE 1 showing a modied form of the present invention.

In the drawing numeral 1 generally indicates my novel supporting device being utilized to support my preferred ag pole.

As best shown in FIGURES 1 3, the holder comprises four parts, a generally U-shaped member A2, a tubular member 3, a pointed rod member 4 and an apertured pad member 9.

The U-shaped member, which may be fashioned from a length of suitable strap material, includes a horizontal element 6 having a centrally located aperture 7 and two vertically depending legs 5. The elements 5 are each provided with pointed or sharpened lower ends 8, to facilitate insertion of the same into the ground.

The tubular member 3 is adapted to be rotatably received by aperture 7 by providing `a slight clearance between the outside diameter of the tubular member and the walls of the aperture. The inside diameter of the tubular member 3 is such as to permit rod-'member 4 to be rotatably received and the pole1 1, which is to be supported, to be vslidingly received therein.

Rod member '4 is preferably somewhat shorter than tubular member 3 and ylonger than legs 5. As best s'e'en in FIGURE 2, the rod member is pointed at one end to facilitate insertion of the same intothe ground. Y

Pad member 9 is preferably washer shaped, having a centrally located aperture l0. The outside diameter'of pad member 9 is somewhat smaller than the distance between the inwardly facing surfaces of legs 5.V As best seen in FIGURE 2, the diameter of aperture `10`is smaller than "the outside diameter of tubular member 3 in order thatgthe pad member 4 rotatablyfsupport Vthel endl of tubular member 3. `In addition, the diameter of aperture 'l0 must be suilicient to permit rod member 4to pass Vtherethrough and enter the ground.

The ilag staffv or pole 11, preferably comprises Va plurality of tubular sections adapted to completely telescope or concentrically nest within one another when not eX- tended in operative relation. There is thus provided a compact unit which is both easy to store and transport. The tubular pole sections are preferablyretained in extended 'relation by means of bolt/s 12,* which` extend through the overlapping Vends of adjacent sections, as best seen in FIGURE lj." w

When my preferred telescoping flag pole is utilized, the

tubular member 3, which rotatably rests upon pad member 9, may form the lower-most section of. Athe tlag pole 11.

The operation of my novel device is best seen in FIG- URES 1 and 2. A substantial ,portion `ofllegs 5` of the U-shaped member 2j'are embedded vertically A in the ground. The aperturedpadmer'nber 9 is locatedI on Vthe ground between the legs S'with the .aperture 1t) vertically aligned with aperture 7 in4 horizontal element 6. `ll'ointed rod member 4 is positioneidcentrally withinl aligned apertures 7 andfl@ and a portionithereof is embeddedin the ground. fffheA upper endofjod memb'erdextends above horizontal element 6. .'Ihtubularrmembfer ,3,'or if my preferred telescoping flag pole is employed, the. lower- ,most tubularrsection thereof,is received --byaper-ture l and isrotatably supported by patlrnember 9.- The portion of rod member 4 which extends above pad,.member .`9,is

rotatably received within the Vbore of the tubular member. The upper-most sections of-my telescoping flagpole are secured to the upperend of the tubular member. In the event my preferred telescopingllag pole is'not employed, it is asimple matter to securethe staff or pole to the-.upper end of tubular member 3.,- i i f i The present invention .willthus be'seentorcompletely V. andeffectively accomplish the-objects enumerated hereinabove.' My novel device provides `aisimplefand..secure means of supporting a ilagpolaior the like, in*` anlerect substitutions may be made to the specic embodiments disclosed herein for the purposes of illustrating the principles of this invention, without departing from these principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following appendetl claims.

Patented May 11, 1965 What is claimed is:

1. A flag pole supporting device comprising in combination a generally U-shaped member comprising a horizontal element having a first aperture therein .and at least two vertical depending elements having pointed lower ends adapted to be driven into the ground so as tobe in rigid engagement therewith, a tubular flag pole receiving member adapted to be rotatably received by said first aperture, .a pad member having a second aperture therein, said aperture communicating with the bore of said tubular member when said tubular member is vertically and rotatably supported by said pad member and a rod member adapted to be received by said tubular member and said second aperture while inserted into the ground so as toV be in rigid engagement therewith.

2. A ag pole supporting device comprising in combination a generally U-shaped member comprising a horizontal element having a first aperture therein and two vertical depending elements, said vertically depending elements being adapted to be inserted into the ground so as to be in rigid engagement therewith, a pad member having a second aperture therein, said pad member adapted to engage the ground and be received within said depending elements with said first and second apertures vin vertical alignment, a tubular member adapted to be rotatably received by said first aperture and further adapted to be rotatably supported by said pad member when'the bore of said tubular member communicates wth said second aperture, and a rod member adapted to be rotatably received by said tubular member and extend into the o ground in rigid engagement therewith through said second aperture.

3. A flag pole supporting device as set forth -in claim 2, wherein said vertical depending elements have pointed lower ends to facilitate inserti-on into the ground.

4. A fiag pole supporting device as set out in claim 3 wherein said rod member is pointed at one end to facilitate insertion into the ground.

5. A supporting device for a pole having a lower-most tubular portion, comprising in combination a generally U-shaped member comprising a horizontal element having a first aperture therein, and at least two vertical depending elements adapted to be inserted into the ground so as to be in rigid engagement therewith,`said rst aperture being adapted to rotatably receive the lowermost tubular portion of the pole to be supported, a pad member having a second aperture therein and adapted to rotatably support the lower-most tubular portion of the pole to be supported, said pad member being also adapted to be received between said depending elements with said first and second apertures in vertical alignment,

and a rod member adapted to be received by said first and second apertures, said rod member being further adapted to be inserted into lthe ground so as to be in rigid engagement therewith and rotatably received by the lower-most tubular portion of said pole.

V6. A supporting device as set forth in claim 5, wherein said vertical depending elements have pointed lower ends to facilitate insertion into the ground.

7. A supporting device as set out in claim 6, wherein said rod member is pointed at one end to facilitate insertion into the ground.

8. A flag pole supporting device including in combination a horizontal element having a first aperture therein and at least one vertically depending leg element, the free end of said leg element being adapted to be inserted into the ground so as to be in rigid engagement therewith and thereby support said horizontal element in vertically spaced relation above the surface of the ground, a pad member having a secondV aperture therein, said pad member being adapted to engage the ground and underlie said horizontal element so that said first and second apertures are in vertical alignment, an elongated rod member adapted to-be received within said first and second apertures when they are in Vertical alignment and be inserted into the ground so as to be in rigid engagement therewith, said rod member being of sufficient longitudinal extent so as to extend vertically above said horizontal member when said rod member is in rigid engagement with the ground, and a tubular member adapted to be rotatably received by said rod member and said first aperture soas to be in engagement with and rotatably supported at one end by said pad member with the other end of said tubular member lextending vertically above said horizontal member, said other end of said tubular member being adapted to rigidly carry a flag pole.

9. A flag pole and supporting device including in combination a horizontal element having a first aperture therein and at least one vertically depending leg element, the free end of said leg element being adapted to be inserted into the ground so as to be in rigid engagement therewith and thereby support said horizontal element in vertically spaced relation above the surface of the ground, a pad member having a second aperture therein, said pad member being adapted to engage the ground and underlie said horizontal element so that said first and second apertures are in vertical alignment, an elongated rod member adapted to be received within said first and second apertures when they are in vertical alignment and be inserted into the ground so as to be in rigid engagement therewith, said rod member being of suflicient longitudinal extent so as to extend vertically above said horizontal member when said rod member is in rigid engagement with the ground, a tubular member adapted to be rotatably received by said rod member and said first aperture so as to be in engagement with and rotatably supported at one end by said pad member with the other end of said Vtubular member extending vertically above said horizontal member, said other end of said tubular member being adapted to rigidly carry a iiag pole and a flag pole including a plurality of tubular sections adapted to telescope within one another when not extended in operative relation.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 957,606 5/ 10 Hendricks et al. 248-38 2,296,217 9/42 Maloney 248-354 2,554,887 5/51 Tricarico 248-44 2,714,496 8/ 55 Doyle 248--43 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A FLAG POLE SUPPORTING DEVICE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A GENERALLY U-SHAPED MEMBER COMPRISING A HORIZONTAL ELEMENT HAVING A FIRST APERTURE THEREIN AND AT LEAST TWO VERTICAL DEPENDING ELEMENTS HAVING POINTED LOWER ENDS ADAPTED TO BE DRIVEN INTO THE GROUND SO AS TO BE IN RIGID ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH, A TUBULAR FLAG POLE RECEIVING MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE ROTATABLY RECEIVED BY SAID FIRST APERTURE, A PAD MEMBER HAVING A SECOND APERTURE THEREIN, SAID APERTURE COMMUNICATING WITH THE BORE OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBER WHEN SAID TUBULAR MEMBER IS VERTICALLY AND ROTATABLY SUPPORTED BY SAID PAD MEMBER AND A ROD MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE RECEIVED BY SAID TUBULAR MEMBER AND SAID SECOND APERTURE WHILE INSERTED INTO THE GROUND SO AS TO BE IN RIGID ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH. 